Alright, so I have some time to update y'all.
So, LEGAL ACCESS... is amazing. Access to an abundance of strains means that I am now able to keep a log of what works, what doesn't, and all the contributing factors.
What I've had success with:
- Still, orally dosing hash oil is the best treatment for my IBS (in my case, I have great access to CO2 extracted oil, which is preferable). I have been primarily dosing Durban Poison CO2 oil in the morning around 6 am. Primarily this has helped mood management (Bipolar Disorder), which, in turn, helps reduce the anxiety, stress, and depression that fuels much of the IBS symptoms. But, as well, orally dosing any strain (my previous, White Russian) helps tremendously in treating my daytime symptoms, which usually start first thing in the morning. Getting the THC into my system early helps iron out the rest of the day, and my daytimes (excluding first thing in the morning) go just fine. I started out dosing a half grain of rice of high CBD strain plus a half grain of Durban Poison. However, as my tolerance increased, I have gone up to 1 1/2 - 2 grains of rice of just DP (CBD+ strain didn't have much use, I'll discuss momentarily). This lasts until about midday or early afternoon, and is balanced out and modified with various flower and oil smoking/vaping. But, the longer curve/arch of the effects helps ensure a smooth balance of applicable THC and other Cannabinoids in the system to counteract the overactive GI tract, and the resulting nausea and diarrhea.
- Smoking Indica flower. Helps a ton with immediate instances of painful cramping and or overstimulation of digestive tract, relaxes the body and mind, which relaxes the GI tract. I have found, for some reason, that high THC Indicas, and ones that are either 100% Indica or with an alternately very high Indica:Sativa ratio are the best. As always, the immediacy of the effects of smoking help with acute symptoms, and with bowel problems, it can be a life saver. Indicas also work very well for nausea. Again, relaxing, sedative properties. Just be careful for over consumption and day time use. My go-to strain has been Master Perm, testing at 22% THC. But I have also been experimenting with other less cerebrally stimulating and more sedative strains like Hashplant, Farmer's Kush, Hell's OG, and White Bubba Hashplant. All of these Indica do the trick, but my preference is for Master Perm, which still allows for some creativity, productivity, and cerebral stimulation, while providing a great body relaxation. I've found that a good cerebrally stimulating but body relaxing indica like Master Perm is a beautiful thing in the very early morning just waking up. It starts the day off quite nicely, and the nausea and bowel problems I may or may not have initially go away within a few puffs. Again though, high THC.
- Dosing a well balanced hybrid in the afternoons helps with late day nausea, something that has crept up on me in recent times. It's gotten worse, but I've had a ton of stressors here. My go to strain is a second place Cannabis cup winner from a local dispensary here with a national reputation, The Farm (Boulder, CO), where they produce their proprietary strain, Alpha Blue, which usually tests in the 20%+ THC range. However, in the afternoons, mood management wise, I usually prefer a lower THC strain, and this Alpha Blue can be too much THC for me mentally, but my body and nausea sometimes dictate heavy THC dosages.
What is not working:
- I am still having a fair amount of bowel problems in the early morning, sometimes starting around 3pm and continuing until noon. That is the worst. Getting up in the middle of the night to poop with urgency is not fun. But, my problems have been largely limited to the mornings. To remedy this, I am starting a dosing regimen of a heavy Indica hash oil in the middle of the night, forcing myself to dose around midnight or 2 am. Generally, dosing oil lasts between 6-10 hours. If I dose a second time during the day, I'll take my second around midday with lunch. I am not far enough down the path of nighttime oral oil dosing to tell if there is success or not. Generally I have had problems 50% of the time. Again, some major stressors (the main cause for my IBS it seems) that influence the prevalence of symptoms.
- Smoking cigarettes, early morning, sometimes associated with preceding pains and nausea, that only multiplies with that first cig. OMG, this is possibly the worst nausea I have ever felt. Canna mentioned this a while back, that cigarettes can spark up an incident, but I have found this to be absolutely true on certain occasions. I haven't quite figured out when I'll enjoy the smoke versus have immediate downturn, but if I have a "gut" feeling that it is not a good idea, it's not a good idea. Usually, this is limited to the early mornings.
- Coffee. I love it and I still drink it, but along with cigarettes (possibly too many) and too much coffee can lead to morning problems, lasting until and after midday. I have found that I can have two moderate cups of coffee, and then the third usually sparks symptoms. No fun. Plus, if using a sativa strain during the mornings, I've found I need less coffee to feel like I can attack the challenges of the day. So, I've limited that. Good advice, again.
- Eating really heavy foods on days that are already going poorly. Really, this is all the stuff you all told me originally, so let this be a confirmation after trial and error, even with accessible cannabis meds. I've had to learn to really pay attention to how my body and mind feel during the course of the day. Better circumstances mean more freedom to do what I want, but this thing is for life, I'm accepting that, and I will probably forever have to watch myself and my choices more than I have in the past.
- Finally, STRESS. This seems to be the major influencer in my IBS occurrences. I have had to become highly conscious of what's going on in between my ears, because it directly affects my body and GI tract. It's gotten to the point where I can be having a conversation with someone where I get some stressful information relayed, and I literally immediately can feel my bowels tense, then the pain and needing to go sensations begin. I can be having a bowel movement in minutes. Therefore, I have really have no choice but to be hardcore about who I associate with, what, where, how, and why, etc..... I've had to become much more responsible for my health and well being.
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There's probably more that I"ll come up with later, but I'm sitting in Starbucks doing some work and drinking hot chocolate on a snowy day, so good time to write, but I'm petering out lol....
Hope it helps.
Peace,
RedSky
I still am currently using the 2:1 ratio Motoco.
I'm able to eat anything I want lately, but I'm still being very careful with it.
